Fast Stream Online Tests & Assessment Centre Bundle Pack

Thinking of applying for a Civil Service graduate scheme? Our Fast Stream bundle pack covers the entire hiring process—online test exercises, assessment centre practice, study guides, and tips so you can get the job.

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Below you will find online test and assessment centre practice exercises, video interview tips, information about the Civil Service competencies, e-tray, and more. Let JobTestPrep help get you through the hiring process.

Civil Service Competencies

The Civil Service competencies, grouped into four areas, run throughout the recruitment process. They are listed below, and you must refer to them at each point:

Strategic Approach to Objectives

Analysis and Decision Making

Building Productive Relationships and Developing Capability

Leading and Communicating

Seeing the big picture

Making effective decisions

Collaborating and partnering

Changing and improving

Achieving commercial outcomes

Building capability for all

Delivering value for money

Civil Service Fast Stream Online Tests

After registering with the Civil Service and selecting a Fast Stream Scheme, you will need to take the Civil Service Online tests. The Civil Service gives you a week to practise the kind of tests you will receive in addition to providing you with practice material. They highly recommend that you use this time to practise. The self-assessed reasoning tests from the Civil Service include the Civil Service SJT exam and a Civil Service behavioural questionnaire. These tests are provided by Cubiks. Practise for these tests with JobTestPrep, and let us help you get a leg up on your competition.

Civil Service Situational Judgement Test

The Civil Service situational judgement test looks at how you respond in work-based situations. The aim of this test is to assess whether your behaviours match those set out in the Civil Service competency framework. In this test, you are given 15 scenarios and asked to rate a list of four potential responses according to how effective you believe each response is.

Prepare for this test by reviewing the competency framework and the job description for the Civil Service job to which you are applying. Take our situational judgement practice tests to familiarise yourself with this type of test, and practise using your judgement in challenging situations.

Civil Service Behavioural Test

Behavioural tests are one of the most interesting selection tests used by employers. As psychometric tests, they evaluate behaviour, strengths and weaknesses, and work-related skills. JobTestPrep offers a professional way to experience these tests as they are administered at assessment centres and online assessments.

Civil Service Online Application

Once you have successfully completed your online tests, you can now move on to a more complete comprehensive Civil Service fast stream application form. In this application form you are given the opportunity to input your scholastic qualifications as well as answer some competency questions. These questions centre on the key values of the Civil Service. In order to answer the questions correctly you need to incorporate the key values of the Civil Service into your answers.

Learning how to incorporate these values into your answers is an art form of sorts.

Civil Service E-Tray Exercise

After you have completed the previous Civil Service online psychometric tests, you are asked to take an e-tray exercise and avideo interview. In the e-trayexercise, you are given a list of e-mails, tasks, and data to organise and prioritise in the same way you would in the role for which you have applied. There are three different stages in the Civil Service e-tray exercise: understanding and comprehending the e-mails; responding in the correct manner; and writing a response to a particular e-mail. In the response to the e-mail, you need to create a well-written report completewith an introduction, main section outlining your ideas, and a conclusion summing up what you have written along with a proposal or recommendation as to the best course of action. You will have 80 minutes to complete this exercise.

Civil Service Video Interview - Info and Tips

Potential employers will interview you via Skype or send you a link to an interview platform that contains pre-determined interview questions. Here, you will have a chance to briefly view the question before you record and submit your answer. Although seemingly easier, this method of interviewing means you do not have a chance to expound upon your answers or explain yourself further.

Tips for the Video Interview

Before you start the video interview, ask yourself the following questions:

Do I have a full hour set aside that is free from distractions?

Is my environment quiet enough for me to focus?

Am I dressed appropriately?

Is the room in which I am sitting adequately lit?

Make sure you are able to answer 'yes' to all of them, and then get started.

The Video Interview

The following is information about the video interview:

The interview includes questions about your experience, what you enjoy, and what motivates you.

The interview focuses on the following Civil Service competencies:

Collaborating and partnering

Building capability for all

Managing a quality service

Delivering at pace

The interview lasts for about 20 minutes and consists of 20 questions.

Your responses are recorded on a video platform.

You can use a PC, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone.

There are short introductory guidance videos on the platform.

A practice question is included and you can record your response to this question as often as you wish.

You can only record your responses to the actual questions once, and you should not expect follow-up questions.

Civil Service Assessment Centre

Once you have passed the first two stages, you will be invited to an assessment centre. There are three exercises you will be faced with at the assessment centre, either in Newcastle or in London:

Group Exercise

This exercise combines e-tray with a group exercise. That is, candidates are provided with very elaborate briefing information with which they prepare for the group interaction. Our group exercise guide will help you learn the skills you need to do well on this type of task. Competencies assessed in the group exercise:

Analysis and decision making

Building productive relationships and developing capability

Leading and communicating

Analysis Exercise

Typically, a case study oranalysis exercise introduces a series of fictional documents, such as reports and results from recent market research. These documents may relate to hypothetical or real-life situations. You are asked to analyse the case at hand, make business decisions, and/or give a brief verbal or written report of your recommendations. Our case study analysis exercise guide will teach you strategies with which to face these tasks. Competencies assessed in the analysis exercise:

Strategic approach to objectives

Analysis and decision making

Leading and communicating

Leadership Exercise

In this exercise, you receive briefing material which describes a managerial issue. Then you play a role, and the case at hand focuses on how you would act in that role given the described case. You prepare a solution and present it (as leaders) to the assessor, who plays your senior manager. Both our role-play and case study exercises, while not an exact match to the leadership exercises, teach and reinforce the important skills you need for this exercise. Competencies assessed in the leadership exercise:

Strategic approach to objectives

Building productive relationships and developing capability

Leading and communicating

Tips for the Assessment Centre

All it takes to sail through the assessment centre is some preparation.

Start getting ready for it early on so you can alleviate the stress that comes from procrastinating. JobTestPrep is expert at assessment centre preparation. With our numerous resources—exercises, guides, and advice—you are sure to feel confident for assessment day.

Figure out your route to the centre because you don't want to be late.

Practise for the Civil Service Fast Stream Assessments

The Civil Service Fast Stream is your fast track to the Civil Service. As we have seen, there are many different stages to the Civil Service recruitment process, each assessing you against a specific set of skills and in a variety of ways. Preparation is key to progressing through the stages, and with our help at JobTestPrep, you can be assured that you are performing at your best.

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